Evo Stik Division One North
Lee Ashforth is the assistant manager of Brighouse Town
Brighouse Town assistant manager Lee Ashforth believes there needs to be a radical change in the rules regarding player transfers in semi-professional football.
Ashforth also claims that other managers and coaches break the registration rules, but understands why and he doesn’t let it bother him
Currently clubs have to issue seven day notices for non-contract players. They then have to wait seven days before being allowed to speak to the player – unless the other club waive the seven day’s notice, allowing contact straightaway.
Ashforth’s view is that the current rules are now outdated.
“I think there needs to be a change of the seven day rule,” Ashforth told Non League Yorkshire.
“Because of social media, there is a lot more casual conversation between players and management staff on a regular basis which means that people break the rules.
“Quite often a player will get in touch saying they would be interested in a move, you then put in the seven days, but have already spoken unofficially, who’s in the wrong?
“I think that it is then an unfair position for everyone, the player is unsettled, both clubs are unsure of what’s happening and managers get annoyed because of that and can make good relationships strained.
“It should be that a club can speak to a player once they have put seven days in and they then have only seven days to tie up a deal or not. Players can’t play for the new club until the seven days is up therefore protecting the current club. Everybody would know where they stand.
“The current rules say that a club has 20 odd days to speak to a player after the initial seven days elapses. That leaves clubs looking over their shoulders because a player could turn down a club, but then change his mind and sign for the interested club 20 days down the line.
“Obviously there would have to be safeguards such as a club cannot sign a player from a club that they facing in say the next 14 days.”